Railway-switch mechanism



April 28, 9 J. E. CONLEY RAILWAY SWITCH MECHANISM Filed Aug. 29, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 i WEE April 28, 1931- J. E. CONLEY 1,802,875

RAILWAY SWITCH MECHANISM Filed Aug. 29', 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 28, 1931 UNITE ATE OFFICE JOHN E. CONLEY, OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE RAILW'AY -SVTITCH MECHANISM Application filed August 29, 1930. Serial No. 478,734.

This invention relates to railway switches and more particularly to the operating mechanism for such switches.

As is well known, trouble is frequently experienced with the switch operating mechanisms in common use, due to mischievous and malicious manipulation and to accumulations of snow, ice and the like, and in some localities the proper working of such switches is often seriously interfered with.

The primary object of the present invention is to devise switch operating mechanism which shall be entirely enclosed and protected from mischievous and malicious manlpulation and from the elements, and to this end I propose to mount such mechanism inside of a hollow cross tie. Another object is to provide means whereby a plurality of such switch operating mechanisms may be connected together as is frequently desirable, as on a ladder track which may have many switches leading therefrom, and to completely enclose and protect the connecting means. A still further object of the invention is to provide a fluid pressure operated mechanism in which the fluid pressure mechanism and even the storage reservoir or accumulator itself are located inside of a hollow tie.

improve generally upon the details of con struction of railway switch operating mechanism, my invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through a hollow cross tie made in accordance with my invention and showing my improved switch operating mechanism mounted therein;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same; Fig. 8 is a plan view on a reduced scale showinghow a plurality of such mechanisms may be connected together for one switch or unit, and also illustrating a modified arrangement of actuating devices;

Figs. 4 and 5 are perspective views on an enlarged scale showing the details of construction of my improved rock shaft and With the above objects in view, and to crank arm employed for operating the switch; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section similar to Fig. 1, showing a portion of the tie intermediate the track rails and illustrating how such a tie and associated parts may be constructed so as to avoid interference with electrically operated signal or other apparatus.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the numeral 1 designates a pair of main track rails and 2 indicates a cooperating pair of movable switch rails or switch points, which may be of the usual or any desired construction. The main and switch rails are supported upon the usual ties 3, in the customary manner, and upon special hollow ties designated 4-, 4 and 4". The usual rail braces 5 are shownas bearing against the main rails 1. 7O

Asshown in Figs. 1 and 2,1ny improved hollow tie t is preferably formed of metal such as iron or steel, either by pressing, stamping or casting, or by welding together previously formed plates, or by a combination of these methods. A rib or lug 6 may be provided on the upper surface of the tie to form an abutment against which the rail brace 5 bears. Also the top wall of the hollow tie is preferably provided with a removable section 7 which may be secured in position by any suitable means (not shown). This removable top section is both for the purpose of facilitating casting, if the tie is cast, and for affording access to the interior of the tie to permit the mounting of the mechanism hereinafter described.

J ournaled in a bearing boss 8 at the bottom of the tie adjacent each switch rail is one end 9 of a vertical rock shaft. To simplify the mounting and assembling of this shaft in the tie, it is preferably formed in two sections, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, although other constructions can be em- W ployed. The bottom section 10 carries at Sr one end the journal 9 and is provided at its upper end with a square or other polygonal socket 11. A square shank 12 is formed at the lower end of the other section 13 and Cil fits into this socket. Thus the two sections with a vertically projecting: pin- 16. As

clearly shown in the drawing, this pin, in the preferred embodiment, 1s made dovetail or upwardly fiarmg.

This dove-tailed pin works freely in a similarly shaped transversely extending slot 17 formed in a plate 18 having a laterally projecting portion and flange which is rigidly secured. to the switch rail, as by means of bolts 18. The slot 17 is closed on the upper side of the plate by means of a removable cover 19. By reference to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the under surface of the plate 18 is recessed so as to overlie, and form a housingv for the upper end of rocker shaft 13 and crank 15. Thus the shaft and its connections to the switch rail are entirely enclosed.

By reference to Fig. 5, it will be seen that the lower section 10 of each rock shaft carries an arm 20 to which the end of a bridle rod 21 is pivotally connected, thus tying the two rocker shafts together.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that when these rock shafts are oscillated in their bearings, the crank arms 15 are swung in horizontal plane over the upper surface of the tie, hus causing the pins 16 to travers the slots 17, thereby shifting the plates 18, andwith them the switch points 2, from one position to the other. It will, of course, be understood that one crank arm 15 extends at right angles to the rail, as shown at the right in Figs. 1 and 2, while the other crank armextends parallel with the rail, as shown at the left in said figures. Thus when the arms 20 are swung to the left, as viewed in Fig. 2, the switch points will be shifted from the position shown in this figure to the opposite. position, as is obvious. It will be further noted that the arm 15, being substantially at right angles to the switch point when the latter is. in closed position, serves to hold or lock it in such position.

The pair of rock shafts, above described, may be actuated or oscillated in any desired one of several ways. In I have shown at 24 an ordinary manually operated switch stand mounted on the extended end of a hollow tied similar inconstruction to the tied illustrated in Fig. 1, and I have. shown an operating rod 23 extending. from the switch stand to the arm 20 of the adjacentrock shaft, and located inside of the hollow tie.

In Figs. 1 and 2, however, I have shown more or less conventionally how the rock shafts can be actuated by means of fluid pressure mechanism. In these figures I have illustrated the fluid pressure mechanism in the form of a motor cylinder 26 having a piston and piston rod 25 pivotally connected at its end with the arm 20 of the adjacent rock shaft. This cylinder, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, is located inside of the hollow tie 4t and may" be mounted at its rear end on a pivot 27 carried by a partition wall 28 extending across the tie. This pivot permits the cylinder to partake of the slight angular movement, due to the oscillation of the arm 20. The upper wall of the tie, immediately over the cylinder 26, is preferably provided with a removable section 29 as shown, so as-to afford access to the cylinder and associated parts.

As a storage reservoir or receiver or accumulator for supplying motive fluid to the mechanism, I utilize the extended end portion 30 of the hollow tie itself, the reservoir comprising the portion of the tie between the extreme end and the partition wall 28. This reservoir may be provided with a filling plug 31 through which any suitable liquid is introduced.

In certaincases, I contemplate storing or accumulating pressure in this reservoir by means of a wheel operated pump. This is conventionally illustrated at 32 in Fig. 2 and is provided with a plunger 33 disposed adjacent the rail and arranged to be engaged by the passing wheels, so as to be reciprocated vertically. This pump delivers fluid through a check valve 35 and pipe 34 into the reservoir 30. Preferably the reservoir is only partially filled with liquid, as shown in Fig. 1, so that air is trapped above the same and produces the necessary pressure.

The admission of pressure fluid to the motor 26 may be controlled in any desired manner, but in Fig. 2 I have illustrated a series of pipes 36, 37 38 and 39' extending from the pump, motor and reservoir to a suitable control valve (not shown). Fluid under pressure is delivered through the pipe 36 to the control valve, which, according to its position, directs such fluid into either pipe 37 or 38, thus causing the piston to move one way or the other in the cylinder 26,'the exhaust fluid from the cylinder returning from the control valve through pipe 39 to a sump or semi-vacuum pipe adjacent the pump and communicating with the intake thereof. Thus the pump draws fluid from this sump or pipe and forces the same into the reservoir, as above described.

lVhether manually orpower operated, therefore, it will be seen' that the actuating mechanism for the switch is in either case enclosed within the hollow tie and is thus to the next.

protected from natural accumulations or interference or damage by foreign bodies.

lVhether hand or power operated, it is often desirable to provide a plurality of actuating mechanisms connected to the switch rails at spaced points along the same so as to move them uniformly. This is illustrated in Fig. 8, in which there are shown three hollow ties 4' and 4; which are preferably alternated with ordinary ties 3. In each of these hollow ties is mounted a pair of rock shafts and associated parts, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. A connecting rod 40, however, extends from each arm 20 of the rock shaft at one side of the track and is connected to a bell crank lever 41 pivotally mount-ed at 42 inside of the end of the tie. ther connecting rods 43 extending longitudinally of the track serve to unite the other arm of each of these bell cranks, the connecting rods 43 being enclosed within pipe sections 4: 1 extending from one tie Thus the pair of actuating mechanisms of each tie are connected together by the bridle rod 21 and all of these bridle rods of each switch are united at their ends by the connecting rods 40 and -13, all of the entire apparatus being wholly enclosed and protected from the elements.

In railway systems, where electrically operated devices are employed, it is necessary to prevent the short circuiting of the track circuits which would be produced by the use of metal cross ties. To this end where metal ties are used I divide my improved tie into two sections P- and 4 as shown in Fig. 6, connected together by bolts 46 but electrically insulated from each other as by means of insulation 45. The bridle rods 21 are also formed in two sections 21 and 21 united by coupling plates 47 held together by bolts as, having suitable insulation 48 interposed between the plates and surrounding the bolts. Thus one track rail is insulated from the other, the same as if metallic ties were not employed.

lVhat I claim is:

1. The combination with a hollow tie, and main and switch rails supported thereon, of switch operating mechanism enclosed within said hollow tie, said mechanism comprising a rod extending wholly below the plane of said main and switch rails and operatively connected with the latter.

2. The combination with a closed, substantially watertight hollow tie, and main and switch rails supported thereon, of

rock shaft journaled in said tie, acrank arm carried by said shaft outside of said tie and connected wlth sald switch ra1ls, and means enclosed withm sald tie for operating said shaft.

5. The combination with a tie, and main and switch rails supported thereon, of a vertical rock shaft journaled in said tie, a crank arm carried by the upper end of said shaft and adapted to swing in a horizontal .plane, a pin-and-slot connection between said crank arm and the switch rail, and means for operating said shaft.

6. The combination with a tie, and main and switch rails supported thereon, of a vertical rock shaft journaled in said tie, a crank arm carried by the upper end of said shaft and adapted to swing in a horizontal plane, said arm having a pin projecting therefrom, a plate connected to said switch rail and having a slot in which said pin works, and means for operating said shaft.

7 The combination with a tie, and main and switch rails supported thereon, of a vertical rock shaft journaled in said tie, a crank arm carried by the upper end of said shaft and adapted to swing in a horizontal plane, over the top of said tie, said arm having a pin projecting therefrom, a plate connected to said switch rail and having a slot in which said pin works, said plate being recessed on its under side and overlying and enclosing said crank arm, and means for operating said shaft.

. 8. The combination with main and switch rails, of a plurality of spaced hollow ties on which said rails are supported, a pair of switch moving mechanisms at each tie and connected with said switch rails, a bridle rod connecting the members of each pair of such mechanisms and extending through the interior of each hollow tie, and means connecting all of said bridle rods together.

9. The combination with main and switch rails, of a plurality of spaced hollow ties on which said rails are supported, a pair of switch moving mechanisms at each tie and connected with said switch rails, a bridle rod connecting the members of each pair of such mechanisms and extending through the interior of each hollow tie, a bell crank mounted inside the end of each of said ties, one arm of said crank being pivotally connected to the corresponding bridle rod, and means extending from tie to tie and serving to connect together the other arm of all of said bell cranks.

10. The combination with a hollow tie, and main and switch rails supported thereon, of switch operating mechanism connected with said switch rails and including a fiuid pressure mechanism mounted inside of said hollow tie. 7

11. The combination with a hollow tie,

and main and switch rails supported thereon, of switch operating mechanism connected with said switch rails and including a fluid pressure mechanism, and a storage reservoir located inside of said hollow tie for supplying motive fluid to said mechanism.

12. The combination with a hollow tie, and main and switch rails supported thereon, of switch operating mechanism connected with said switch rails and including a fluid pressure mechanism, a storage reser- VOir for supplying motive fluid to said mechanism, and means for creating a pressure in said reservoir, said mechanism and reservoir both'being entirely enclosed within said hollowtie.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOHN E. CONLEY. 

